Suppression from the Food Chain's Trophic Levels

Xue Jiuyao was born into an ordinary family in Chou City, Kaiyang Continent Chou City. He had neither a wealthy family background nor extensive connections.

But when he embarked on the path of cultivation, he was not anxious about his future.

Because he was a true genius who awakened his talent on his own at the age of 16.

With his exceptional talent, he freed himself from some of the shackles that had been weighing him down.

He went from being an ordinary citizen to an ordinary citizen with potential.

The family of three finally moved out of the old building that didn't even have stairwell lights, and now they have a new home where they can finally have enough to eat.

However, once people taste the sweetness of climbing, they will always yearn to climb higher.

Xue Jiuyao is a competitive and proud person; he is unwilling to remain an ordinary person and live a mediocre life.

So he joined the Yinling Sect, which dominated the Chou City, and began to hone his skills and cultivate diligently.

In just two years, Xue Jiuyao broke through the Profound Realm barrier, a barrier that ordinary people could never reach in their entire lives.

After that, he began to go out and hone his skills, becoming a bounty hunter, a profession he still holds today.

He knew very well that his cultivation path had been too smooth, and sooner or later he would face his own "tribulation".

But...

"Bang!"

Xue Jiuyao rolled around awkwardly on the moon-white ground, which was covered with pebbles and cracks.

The enormous, twisted tentacles brushed past him, the force of the wind stinging his skin.

He tried desperately to regulate his breathing, but his heart was pounding uncontrollably in his chest, making a deafening "thump-thump" sound.

Xue Jiuyao looked up, and the scarlet blood fell into his bright golden pupils.

He was clearly only at the Peak Second Realm of the Profound Realm, and was clearly a realm lower than him.

But when he met Zi Sui's Shisui Kakugan, a ripple of fear would involuntarily rise in his heart.

Fear was building up, and instinct was screaming for escape.

Xue Jiuyao lay on the ground, only to hear his "Death Tribulation" say, "Congratulations on entering the Second Stage, keep it up!"

Grotesque tentacles appeared out of nowhere beside him, suddenly lunging to bite.

He didn't have time to think about what kind of monster Yue Jian was; he could only flip over and leap up to dodge the attack.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

When the Bikaku missed its first strike, it swept in the opposite direction, leaving only the remains of cargo containers and pillars in its wake, causing the entire dock to tremble.

Fine Feather Powder drifted by, enveloping the cage Xue Jiuyao had originally set up for his prey, isolating and sealing everything off.

At this moment, Xue Jiuyao could only dodge and weave, relying on her willpower and survival instinct to struggle and escape.

However, the pride of a cultivator deep within his soul stirred a trace of resentment within him.

He gripped the broadsword, about two palm lengths long, and forcefully suppressed the instinctive trembling in his body.

"Tread!"

A set of containers appeared in the path. Xue Jiuyao kept moving, stepped vertically onto the container door, and then leaped over the impact of the Bikaku.

The shipping container was smashed to pieces, and wood chips flew everywhere from the broken solid wood.

Xue Jiuyao turned around, his Psychic Energy gathering on the blade without dissipating, and slashed down with his short sword!

"Clang!"

The sharp blade was easily blocked by the crimson Blade Scales.

The full-force attack from the Third Realm of the Profound Realm only left a thin, long scratch on the scales.

Then, the Blade Scales stood upright, and the Bikaku seemed to gently unfold, blooming like flower petals, with a slightly eerie beauty.

A tremendous force suddenly struck Xue Jiuyao's blade, sending him flying instantly.

Immediately afterward, before the figure that had been sent flying backward even landed, the dark red Kagune, like flowing blood, slowly extended forward, enveloping and trapping its prey within.

Xue Jiuyao was gripped by eight Kagune, their Blade Scales wedged under his skin.

Then, a crimson Koukaku emerged from the Space Rift, pierced his body, and drew upon his Psychic Energy to grow inward.

The nerves in the hand were severed, and the knuckles gripping the knife lost strength and opened uncontrollably.

The dagger fell to the ground, making a crisp sound as it struck the ground.

The commotion at the dock, which lasted less than half a minute, suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

The battle is over.

Click!

As the weapon slipped from his hand, Xue Jiuyao seemed to hear the sound of something shattering.

It seemed to be his bones, the space around him, or some indescribable spiritual thing.

He stared blankly as the monster who called himself Yue Jian jumped down from the top of the cargo container and slowly walked towards him.

Only then did he realize that the other party hadn't moved an inch from beginning to end.

He wanted to ask why, why he, as Second Realm Profound Realm, possessed such terrifying combat power.

The disparity in combat power that almost defied the rules of realm division could not be explained by things like talent, aptitude, or potential.

This is more like a tiger hunting cattle and sheep, or an eagle preying on pikas and rabbits.

It is the species advantage of top Predators, the suppression from the trophic level of the food chain.

Fear became uncontrollable and burst forth.

He was silently swallowed up by the Kagune.

Shisui coldly watched as Xue Jiuyao's body was gradually hollowed out by the Koukaku, and his head was completely removed.

He was thinking about how to maximize his profits.

The head before him had bright golden eyes, and the vivid fear in them prevented them from dimming; they still shone brightly.

Shisui gazed at the golden hue, his eyes filled with the scrutiny of a fine, unpolished material.

"Hmm, it would be rather impolite to just send it over like this."

A branch split off from the scapula below the shoulder Koukaku and then gently grew upwards from the cut at the neck.

"Click click click..."

The dock, now a ruin, echoed with eerie sounds; until dawn, he would be shrouded in a metallic mist.

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the silk curtains, illuminating the elegant and spacious room.

"When--"

Outside the room, the clock struck 6:30, but Bo Xiwan was no longer in bed.

He walked out of the washroom and casually brushed the water droplets from his hair.

I opened the dressing room and, based on my mood that day, chose a silver-gray formal suit and a bright maple wood cane inlaid with silver.

As is customary, he would first go to his study to deal with the documents that had been generated during his nighttime rest, and then have breakfast.

Bo Xiwan tidied his clothes and appearance before leisurely pushing open the door and leaving.

Then he would walk along the corridor, which was occasionally decorated with antiques, paintings, and flowers, toward his study.

The manor was quite large, and Bo Xiwan didn't particularly like having too many outsiders in his home, so they hardly encountered any servants along the way.

He walked for five or six minutes before arriving at the ebony door of the study, which was embroidered with the Bo Xi Family crest.

Bo Xiwan's Psychic Energy fluctuated slightly, and the door made a faint clicking sound after a moment.

He pushed open the door as usual, then froze on the spot.

On the large mahogany desk in the center of the study, black datura, commonly found in tropical regions and near execution grounds, bloomed silently.

A sweet, metallic smell wafted out, and specks of crimson dripped from the edge of the table, seeping into the thick handmade carpet.

In the center of the floral display is a reddish-brown head adorned with datura flowers.

Bo Xiwan's blue eyes met the scattered, brilliant gold light, and his astonishment was momentarily revealed before he quickly composed himself.

It's Xue Jiuyao.

He calmly made his judgment, and instead of rushing in, he closed the heavy ebony door.

This place is no longer safe.

Bo Xiwan turned around and left as if nothing had happened.

Only their hurried footsteps revealed the extent of the "surprise" from this unexpected gift.